‘Oh.’ Cassian hadn’t quite put that together. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. Would you rather not meet him?’
‘No, I might as well. See how it goes, I suppose, and I’ll have to get used to it. And he wasn’t unkind. I can’t blame anyone for being revolted. Do you want to go tonight?’
‘No,’ Cassian said. ‘Not tonight. I’d rather – could we go for a walk? A walk, and eat together, and have the rest of the day just for us before we move onto everything else?’
Daizell walked over and rested his head against Cassian’s, forehead to forehead. ‘Let’s do that.’
Cassian had to admit he was nervous as they drove back to Leamington Spa. He had hired a good pair of horses, and drove at a clipping pace. Daizell sat beside him on the box. It was infinitely better than the stage; it was also far superior to plodding along in the ducal coach with outriders, a valet, all the trappings of attendance.
He did want his valet, since he was tired of being a scruffy mess and of packing clothes and organising laundry – so tired, in fact, that Daizell had got Martin to deal with it all in return for a lift to Leamington Spa. Still, the freedom of movement of the last month was something he wanted to experience again.
They arrived at Leamington in the early evening, tired and windswept. Cassian took a room – two beds – at the Star, and sent a note to warn Louisa while they made themselves presentable, and they made their way over to the Kentridges’ home.
They were shown into the drawing room, where Kentridge, Louisa, Leo, and Miss Beaumont were waiting.
‘Sev.’ Louisa rose. ‘And Mr Charnage.’
Cassian made introductions between Daizell and the Kentridges. Miss Beaumont greeted him enthusiastically. ‘Oh, Mr Charnage, I am so pleased to see you again. I have told Mr Crosse and Louisa all about how kind and clever you were. I hope you’re well?’
‘Excellently, thank you,’ Daizell said, saluting her hand. He straightened to look at Leo, who was glowering. ‘Crosse.’
‘Charnage,’ Leo returned. ‘It’s been some time. I understand you’ve been getting my cousin in trouble.’
‘Actually, it was the other way around.’
Daizell said it easily enough, but Cassian could feel his tension, and Leo’s bristle as he returned, ‘The Duke of Severn isn’t known for making trouble.’
‘You suggested yourself that it would do me good to do so,’ Cassian put in.
‘I didn’t know how much trouble you had in mind! Or that you intended to take your responsibilities so carelessly.’
‘Leo, for heaven’s sake—’
‘You made the point that you are Severn, Your Grace. You are obliged to live up to your title.’
‘You overstate matters, Leo,’ Kentridge said, in his mild way. ‘People tolerate a great deal more and worse from all corners of the House of Lords than anything Severn has done. I might even suggest that Lord Hugo’s very natural desire to fulfil his obligations in loco parentis, and Severn’s exceedingly tolerant nature, have led to rather an oppressive set of expectations around his conduct which, so far, has been faultless to a fault.’
‘Kentridge,’ Louisa said. ‘If you’re going to talk like that, stand for Parliament.’
He smiled at his wife. ‘That is, I don’t think it’s good foranyone to be obliged to be perfect. It’s not in human nature. I cannot see that Severn has done anything mean or unkind, so perhaps we could end this argument, which smacks of moralising.’
‘I am not moralising!’ Leo protested furiously. ‘If I do not approve of Severn’s associations, it is because Charnage’s disgraceful behaviour has caused the greatest harm to the reputation of a lady whom I admire and respect above all others!’
‘Now, wait a moment!’ Cassian snapped. Louisa said, ‘Leo, for goodness’ sake,’ and Miss Beaumont put in, louder than anyone, ‘Mr Crosse, that is unfair!’
‘It is, on Miss Beaumont’s own telling, most unfair,’ Kentridge said. He was a remarkably self-possessed man, and rather more authoritative than any of those present. He also had a knack of saying things in a manner that made the Crosse family listen, which Cassian intended to learn. ‘And it is also discourteous to a guest in my house.’
Leo reddened. ‘That is all very well, but look at the situation Miss Beaumont is in! You have achieved very little with her trustees, and all Vier needs to do is spread this story of a second elopement to ruin her entirely!’
‘Well, that is my fault,’ Miss Beaumont said, with colours flying in her cheeks. ‘And I said so, and I don’t see why you must blame other people for what I asked them to do!’
‘He should have known better!’
‘I was there,’ Cassian said. ‘At least, on the recent occasion. So if you want to blame someone—’
‘—you should blame Eliza,’ Louisa said briskly. ‘She has made it quite clear she was the motivating spirit in both these escapades, with Sev and Mr Charnage merely her catspaws. Although honestly, Sev, howyoushould not haveknown better is beyond me. Nevertheless, she has not made excuses for herself so Leo needs to stop trying to make this anyone else’s fault – no, we all see that’s what you’re doing so shut up.’
‘Yes, please stop, Mr Crosse,’ Miss Beaumont said. ‘I don’t want to blame my mistakes on other people and I don’t want you to do that for me. It isn’t fair. I am not a child who needs to be absolved of responsibility for a broken toy. What I did was my fault, all of it, and if it makes you think badly of me I am very sorry for it, but it will not help anyone to pretend otherwise.’
